Modular multi-angle synthetic aperture radar sensor on a track

DWPI Title: Synthetic aperture radar sensor system for high-gain synthetic aperture radar operation applied to topographic mapping, has segments defining longitudinal axis, where segment is coupled to gimbal, and rotated about central vertical axis
Abstract: A synthetic aperture radar sensor having five degrees of freedom (DoF) is disclosed. The five DoF enable multiple imaging operations, including multiple simultaneous imaging operations. The sensor includes multiple transceivers mounted to track segments, with variable spacing between the transceivers being the first DoF. The second DoF is about a vertical axis allowing side-to-side motion of the transceivers. The third DoF is about a horizontal axis parallel to a direction of travel with the segments perpendicular to the direction of travel, thereby allowing the transceivers to form a horizontal line, a vertical line, or some intervening angle. The transceivers can be at different angles, corresponding to the fourth DoF, which permits simultaneous vertical and side-looking operation. The fifth degree of freedom is about a horizontal axis parallel to the direction of travel with the segments parallel to the direction of travel, allowing pointing of the transceivers at a desired scene.
Use: Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) sensor system for high-gain synthetic aperture radar operation applied to topographic mapping, navigation, environmental monitoring, and information acquisition used for optical sensing on a multi-segment track for highly accurate aerial navigation employed in commercial applications, such as a redundant navigational aid on commercial airliners and helicopters.
Advantage: The synthetic aperture radar (SAR) sensor has five degrees of freedom that enable multiple imaging operations, including, in some configurations, multiple imaging operation simultaneously. The SAR sensor has multiple transceivers, with corresponding antennas, with the transceiver mounted to one or more track segments. The ability to change the spacing between the transcouples on the track segments corresponds to the first degree of freedom. The remaining four degrees of the freedom are implemented using a multi-axis gimbal or multiple single-axis Gimbals and pivots between adjacent track segments, thus allowing side-to-side rotational motion of the transcovers. The transceiver signals may thus be directed to one side or the other, and to points in between, for example, directly below the SAR sensor in altimetry operation.
Novelty: The synthetic aperture radar sensor system comprises multiple segments (110) defining a longitudinal axis. The segments mechanically coupled to a gimbal (130). Multiple segments are rotated about a central vertical axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. An antenna (120) coupled to a separate multiple segments and adapted to move along the longitudinal axis formed by the segments. Multiple antenna move relative to each other along the longitudinal axis. The antenna adapted to transmit or receive a corresponding radio frequency signal. The synthetic aperture radar sensor is adapted for a high-gain synthetic aperture radar operation, altimetry operation, moving target indication operation, mono pulse operation, pulse repetition frequency operation, side-looking operation, vertical-looking operation, interferometric synthetic aperture radar operation, or terrain point cloud operation.
Filed: 2/2/2023
Application Number: US18105020A
Tech ID: SD 15807.1
This invention was made with Government support under Contract No. DE-NA0003525 awarded by the United States Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration. The Government has certain rights in the invention.
Data from Derwent World Patents Index, provided by Clarivate
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